Hi! I am
Ariel Wang
A PhD student studying Human-Computer Interaction at University of California, Santa Cruz.
product design

Coming from an industrial design background, I have experience in designing UX products such as mobile applications, IoT services, and websites.

UX research

I have a range of UX research experiences using both qualitative and quantitative methods.

projects

My projects range from social media, teens, and health.  

About me

I am a PhD student in Human-Computer Interaction at UC Santa Cruz, where I explore the intersection of health and social media to design more thoughtful and supportive digital experiences. My research, advised by Dr. Christina Chung, focuses on how social technologies can foster well-being and healthier lifestyles, particularly for teens and individuals with food allergies.

Before diving into academia, I worked as a UX designer and researcher at the Taiwan Design Research Institute, blending design thinking with user research to create meaningful interactions. I also hold dual Master’s degrees—one in Informatics from Indiana University and another in Design from Taiwan Tech—bringing a multidisciplinary perspective to my work.

With a background that bridges HCI, design, and health, I’m passionate about shaping the future of digital platforms to be more reflective, inclusive, and human-centered.

Milestones and Updates

2025
My research on food allergy identities on social media got accepted at CHI 2025!
2024  Nov
I presented our paper, From Viral Content to Real-Life Cuisine and Beyond: Examining Teenagers’ Interactions with TikTok Food Videos and the Influence on Their Food Practices, at CSCW 24, Costa Rica
2024   Aug
I passed my advancement and am officially a PhD candidate!
2024  Jun
I led a team of research interns to accomplish UX research tasks on food allergies
2024  May
Hosted a full-day workshop, Forms of Fraudulence in Human-Centered Design: Collective Strategies and Future Agenda for Qualitative HCI Research, at CHI 202
2023  Dec
Our paper, “Understanding fraudulence in online qualitative studies: From the researcher’s perspective” has been accepted to CHI 2024
2023  Dec
I was selected as a Graduate Pedagogy Fellow at UCSC
2022  April
Our paper, "TikTok made me do it": teenagers’ perception and use of food content on TikTok", got accepted to IDC 2022
2021  Dec
Our robot design about human-plant interactionsgot Best Narrative Award at HRI 2021
2021 Aug
Starting my PhD journey--
I joined the ProHealth Lab at Indiana University Bloomington!